Pune to Goa

This is a discussion on Pune to Goa within Route / Travel Queries, part of the Street and Travel Experiences category; Dear All,
I have just joined Team-bhp and found the site to be very interesting and helpful. I need some ...

I have just joined Team-bhp and found the site to be very interesting and helpful. I need some help from all of you to plan a trip. I tried to search the required information but could not get an exact match.

I am planning a trip from Pune to Goa (as will be clear from the title) next week in my newly acquired Honda City. I need to decide on the route... following options have been told to me.

I did this last year Goa to Pune and back in a Escort diesel. We went Goa-Chiplun-Poladpur Mahabashwar-Pune. Stopped in M'war for three days. Returned via Kolhapur, where you take the road to Gaganbowda ghat which takes you down gently to the Konkan coast. From Kolhapur to the ghat is a narrow well-paved stretch of around 40km, coming down the ghat is really beautiful, and once on the coast, north of Sawantwadi, it's a smooth ride to Goa. We started 6 am from Pune and reached Panaji by 6 pm, with about 2 and half hours of stops. Breakfast on the highway, lunch at Kolhapur, tea at Sawantwadi. Three kids on board so we weren't really speeding. This is the shortest route by the way. All the best, and let us know how the trip went.

I know I am writing very late but it is for any on who wants to take NH 4 passing by Satara, Kolhapur and on the way to Belgaum. The road is wide, a high way and you can easily go up to a speed of 120-150. And is a nice ride.
Follow the Satara Road, go past kolhapur and then from Shankreshwara take a right turn.You will have to go down underthe bridge to take the right turn.
The small road will take you Gadgilanj or soemthing like this.Then coems Amboli Ghat and after that Sawantwadi.
From Sawantwadi its straight to Goa in 1 hour.
The whole journy for me takes not more then 8 to 10 hours driving with a speed of 100-120 on the highways and 60-80 on the inroads wiht one or two half hour stops in between. The distance is 450 kms approximately.

to reach faster ...do pune to belgaum on the GQ ..u can easily do the 330 odd kms in about 4-5 hrs ...from belgaum you can tak eteh NH4A to panaji via Londa ...its a superb drive but you have to watch out for dumper trucks and also for loose sand on the corners ....

from belgaum to panaji its about 150 kms ...which should take you about 2.5 to 3 hours ...so the total time through this route should take about 8-10 hours max ..

For a better driving experience, get into Kolhapur city, ask for directions in the crowded and narrow laned town for 'Rankala' (This is a huge lake/reservoir). On reaching Rankala ask for directions to Gaganbawda ghat and enjoy the drive. This road takes you to Kankavli on NH-17 (Bombay - Goa highway) which is about 100 kms north from Sawantwadi. This route extends the journey distance by about 85-90 kms.

Other alternate route as mentioned by Satya. One from the same route is to go via Chorla ghat this is between Belgaum and Panji. Try this resort for a stay http://www.wildernest-goa.com/ . You will have to leave your car in their guarded parking lot. They transport you to the resort on bullock carts.

Other routes - Pune - Satara - Koyna dam - Chiplun - Goa *Dont know this route in detail but heard that it takes you on a scenic route of the dam.

I know I am writing very late but it is for any on who wants to take NH 4 passing by Satara, Kolhapur and on the way to Belgaum. The road is wide, a high way and you can easily go up to a speed of 120-150. And is a nice ride.
Follow the Satara Road, go past kolhapur and then from Shankreshwara take a right turn.You will have to go down underthe bridge to take the right turn.
The small road will take you Gadgilanj or soemthing like this.Then coems Amboli Ghat and after that Sawantwadi.
From Sawantwadi its straight to Goa in 1 hour.
The whole journy for me takes not more then 8 to 10 hours driving with a speed of 100-120 on the highways and 60-80 on the inroads wiht one or two half hour stops in between. The distance is 450 kms approximately.
Chetan

I recently joined in the forum...
Had regularly visited the forum numerous times since months.. but as a guest.. And got all my inputs for buying a car (alto lxi) and my ICE setup (Pio 5050 + JBL GT5 coax 4" front and 6x9 back in a big box = awesome results..!!!) from the forum.. thanks everyone for the suggestions.. though not given to me directly..!

Now finally registered, (though my membership got rejected a couple of times for not following the rules.. gr8 job mods.. to keep the forum in good shape..)

Now coming to the point...

I'm planning a trip to Goa this weekend, in my new car with the new ICE setup.

Please suggest the best route.. Solely for driving & scenic pleasure...
I'm planning to leave on saturday early morning, reach goa by evening.. spend the night there and leave back for pune on sunday late morning to reach pune at night...

Request everyone's valuable inputs on the route, things to carry and must see places on the way...

I have travelled on Pune - Kolhapur - Nipani - Uttur - Ajara - Amboli - Sawantwadi - Goa route just last week. Uttur-Ajara stretch is a bit narrow at places (one and a half lane) because they are widening those stretches. But otherwise its pretty nice. Will post a travelogue soon.